8. The arctic fox is brownish-grey in summer and white in winter. From your know

Question

8. The arctic fox is brownish-grey in summer and white in winter. From your knowledge about coat colour in Siamese cats, answer the following questions about the arctic fox: a. Come up with a logical hypothesis to explain the seasonal coat colour changes for the arctic fox (focus on the function of the enzyme(s) involved). b. Outline a simple and humane experiment to test your hypothesis. c. What other adaptation in the fox allows for rapid coat colour change in the spring when the fox changes from white to greyish-brown?

Explanation / Answer

A ans) In general colour of eyes and hair is due to the production of the melanin from the cells. There are two types of melanin pigments are present, eumelanin and phaeomelanin. Eumelanin produces brown and black colour and phaeomelanin produces red and yellow colours. White colour is due to absence of production of melanin from the cells.

In order to adapt to the environment arctic foxes changes their coat colour. These chages are induced by either shifts of temperature or the difference in the amounts of the daylight. Shedding of fur and different biochromes like eumelanin and pheomelanin are produced due to these changes. Environmental changes and period of daylight also responsible for the secretion of hormoes like melatonin and prolactin.

During the climate changes from summer to winter in arctic foxes shudding of fur will occur and melanin is not produces hence the colour of the fur will become white at the time of the winter. During the climate changes from winter to summer in arctic foxes shudding of fur will occur and melanin prigment is produced from the cells, hence the colour of the fur will become brownish-grey at the time of the summer.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse 8
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.